Law and Society as an approach to studying forced migration

 

How can “law and society” as an approach serves to better understanding and dealing with refugees as an exception to the normal application of law.

In other words, how can “law and society” help normalize the exceptional case that represents refugee hood for the normal proceeding of law. Palestinian refugees are living under the state of exception in most host countries.

They were excluded from the regular application of international refugee law. They were excluded from the normal application of public law in host countries (applicable even on foreigners). They were excluded from integrating with local communities by favoring their concentration in refugee camps as a symbol for their status, and as a sign for the determination to return.

In all those circumstances, Palestinian refugees were excluded from the regular application of law. How can our unit better approach the issue of forced migration and refugees? And how can “law and society” be helpful in realizing this objective?

Date: 
Thursday, December 2, 2010 - 10